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Renunciation

Radhanath Swami Inspired by Raghunath Das Goswami

The year was 1996; the day was 25 January, Vasant Panchami, the holiest of holy days according to the Gaudiya Vaishnava Vedic Calendar; and the time was 1:15 pm—when my wife gave birth to a baby boy. I was exulted.

Five days later, when Radhanath Swami returned to Mumbai after his week long visit to Poona, he expressed his desire to see the child that same day. So, in the afternoon, while my wife and I occupied a couple square feet of Radhanath Swami’s room floor, our infant occupied Radhanath Swami’s arms. There his body lay motionless and draped in cloth, bathing in Radhanath Swami’s unprecedentedaffectionate gaze.

“Please name him,” I requested Radhanath Swami.

He looked up at me. “What name should I give him? Have you thought of any?”

“No. I haven’t. You name him according to your choice,” I quickly retorted. At that moment, when everything in Radhanath Swami’s entire being—except for his heart—seemed dysfunctional due to affection, I was confident his heart exclusively would respond to my request.

“I will name him after a person who very much inspired me to gravitate towards the tradition of Gaudiya Vaishnavism while I treaded my path towards Krishna Bhakti in Vrindavan, in 1971. I was very much influenced by the determination, renunciation and lifestyle of this personality—Raghunath Das Goswami. Since this child was born on the birthday of Raghunath Das Goswami, I name him Raghunath.” Hearing this, I felt a chill tingle up my spine, and my mind awash with gratitude. My family’s fortune apart, what just transpired had revealed the sacred substance of Radhanath Swami’s consciousness. Raghunath Das Goswami, Radhanath Swami’s role model, was a saint of the sixteenth century renowned for his renunciation. He drank only a palm full of buttermilk once in three or four days for his own subsistence, and would devote all his time for devotion to God and selfless service to others.

Amid those exhilarating moments, my mind nudged me to be rid of a concern that gnawed at it. “What if after twenty five years of my laborious upbringing, my boy doesn’t become a devotee of Lord Krishna?” I asked Radhanath Swami. I was a Krishna devotee, and I wanted my son too to grow up to be one.

Upon hearing my words, Radhanath Swami’s expression became grave. “Whether he becomes a devotee of Krishna is between him and Krishna. But one thing is for sure. If you do your duty of providing him all care, Krishna will definitely take care of your devotion.”

He had imparted a lesson in true renunciation: attachment only to devotion and to service—selflessly. And, of course non-coincidentally, it was exactly what Raghunath Das Goswami had exemplified in the sixteenth century.

—Ashok Parikh

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79 replies on “Radhanath Swami Inspired by Raghunath Das Goswami”

H H Radhanath Swami gave perfect answer to the same question of almost parents . Thank you Maharaj

Very Touching and inspiring too – Wonderful lessons on attachment only to devotion and to service — selflessly. All glories to HH Radhanath Swami Maharaj. Thanks a lot Prabhuji for sharing this sweetest nectar.

Radhanath Swami’s deep understanding of the teachings of previous acharyas, living by them and guiding other devotees to learn and apply these principles – is one of the rare examples in todays world, where everyone wants to concoct his own way of religion without carrying for vedic scriptures and bonafide acharyas from the past.
Very fortunate to be able to have Radhanath Swami’s association

Thank you very much for sharing this inspiring story. “If you do your duty of providing him all care, Krishna will definitely take care of your devotion.

He had imparted a lesson in true renunciation: attachment only to devotion and to serviceselflessly.”

These words are so true and not to be forgotten forever.

Very nice entry.Child Raghunath is glorious and very fortunate since Radhanath Swami had shown intrest in seeing him.Thank you very much.

In this beautiful exchange Radhanath Swami taught a wonderful lesson, ‘If you do your duty of providing him all care, Krishna will definitely take care of your devotion’. Thank you Radhanath Swami!

Radhanath swami always remembers the great acharyas. What a fortune that the child was born on the appearance day of one of the acharyas and thus named accrodingly

HH Radhanath Swami is imparting a very simple and subtle lesson for everybody – Do your duty and leave the rest to God. Do not be attached (even in devotional sense) to the fruits of your efforts as it is the Supreme Lord who decides what is good for all of us. HH Radhanath Swami ki Jai

Thank you very much for sharing this nectar. Maharaj’s message overflows with the meaning of “Detached Caring”.

Radhanath Swami so nicely depicts the practical application of the teachings of the Goswamis.

He had imparted a lesson in true renunciation: attachment only to devotion and to service—selflessly. And, of course non-coincidentally, it was exactly what Raghunath Das Goswami had exemplified in the sixteenth century. So beautiful application of the principles by which a great saint lives. Thank you Radhanath Swami for teaching us this valuable lesson, through your dealings with others.

Radhanath Swami himself is an epitome of selflessness and compassion. Thanks a lot of sharing this beautiful pastime.

HH Radhanath swami explains how we should serve selflessly and sincerely without expecting the results.

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